2008 TBF Federation Nationals

 

 We left Burlington, Vermont around 7:00am and arrived at the Ramada Inn Charlotte, NC at 2:00pm. It was 76 degrees and sunny.  Registration was at 4:00 pm and had boat and equipment briefing. We were also paired for the practice day and day one of competition. I was paired with Rob Lee from Alabama.

    Wednesday, practice day, I awoke at 2:50am and minutes later the power went out. A car had hit a pole and knocked out power for a large area. my boater fished docks and beds all day. It was sunny and warm, 78 degrees. The water was 66 degrees. That night I re-rigged and got all ready for the first day of competition. Shelley and Tucker {wife and son} went to Hiddenite Mines and dug up some gems and had fun.

    Thursday, the first day of competition we were in the Castrol Boat. After the National Anthem and a prayer, we were off to fishing. No wind and sunny, 80degrees. Great day to fish.  Rob got  a good one at his first dock, about 30 docks later I finally caught a fish. Rob limited by the end of the day. I made a long cast to my second and final fish. I weighed in 3lb 15oz.

     Feeling a little discouraged, thinking I had no chance, I went to dinner with my family. We talked about the day on our way to Freedom Park.  That night I talked to my next day partner, Craig Hartline from Utah. He was open to any ideas.

     Friday, We were fishing in the National Guard boat. It was sunny and 83 degrees. We went north near the generating plant and worked back, picking up one or two at each stop .

I had 3 in the boat now, I asked if We could go check to see if a good fish I saw the day before was still in a cove just below the Buster Boyd bridge,He agreed.

I got it ,a 3.5 lber !Craig pics up another and I limit out,

Yaaa Hoooo!

We both work on fish and each foul hooked fish(no good).

Craig remembers one on the south end of the lake and We are on our  way.

 It is there and after 10:00 minutes He gets it ,It makes a jump near the boat and comes off. We leave for new water and come back in a half hour.

He gets it on again,it jumps and is off again.He informs Me this is the 5th time in two days He has had the fish near the boat.

We head back up the lake to a couple coves above the Bridge

And He gets one more in the boat.

 On the ride to the weigh-in We swap fishing stories and talk about the next days plans with our families. We are almost last to weigh and I see that Bob Crino a boater from Vermont has made the cut for the final day,(go Bob).

I talk to the Massachuseutes Co –Angler and He also has a limit.

It is My turn, 12lbs 9oz and now I make the cut also,(Hooo-Ahhh).

Grinning from ear to ear,Bob and I sit at the champions dinner and soak it in.

We are on Our way to the BFL All American in Hot Springs Arkansas.

 We are now paired for the final day and I am with Terry McWilliams of Indiana and have the Berkley boat.

In the morning We are preparing the boat and the TBF crew makes the final checks,Snap,My Carolina rigging pole is broken.It is an accident but I had high hopes of spending the day on it.Terry had inormed Me that is what We would be doing.I get another rod and it is time to roll.Terry is swinging for the fence today,main lake points. Our first stop is a good one I hook up with a jig and He gets one on a tube.I am O K again.

In the docks He has a big one on…Catfish.  Next spot I get another and Terry gets one…its foul hooked,toobad,it’s a good one!

We go to move and the boat is dead ,Battery gauge says 10 volts.Oh Yaah ,We have a camera crew following us at all times and they instantly summon another boat to switch to.We are fishing again but We really lost momentum and it is slow now.Terry limits at the end of the day and I only have 2 for another 3 lbs 13oz.

 The result for Bob and I is a entry to the All American and checks for 2500.00 and 1000.00 dollars respectively.

 Norm White is the Vermont Bass Federation President and very large part of our success. I thank You for the dedication and support all the way.

At the Banquette We had Robert Cartlidge and Dave Simmonds sharing the MC role and made us all feel our accomplishments.

The National Guard and Forrest Wood spoke and inspired us as well as reminded us of what it  is all about.

 I must improve on the dock fishing and stay strong on the rig for the next  tournament.

If You want calm or moderate fishing experiences, this may not be the path for You, If You want excitement and rewarding experiences and sometimes disappointments, join a TBF club and study, fish a lot and You may live the dream. Winning every tournament  is fantasy, this  is reality.

 

 

                                                                Tim Austin

                                                     Vermont State Youth Director.